DM Harpwizard’s Heroes of Elsir Vale (Inactive)

Game Master GM Harpwizard

"As you wish, Bofus." She gets up and moves to a chest where she procurs your staff of healing. "Here you are." the cleric says as she hands it over to Bofus. "I trust you will use it well. There will be much death in this city before the night is over. Be well, young halfling."

Any more charges in it than when I left it? :-)

You as well, ma'am. Don't let the stream of injuries dampen your spirit. It's the price we're all gladly paying for freedom!

He gives her a salute and a smile before heading back to the group.

Yes, she was able to recharge the staff one point per day. It has gone up three points. How many is the staff up to now?

As the hobgoblins flee back into the woods, you all feel some comfort in having prevented a breach in the walls. However, with the red dragon still lingering in the nearby hobgoblin encampment. You suspect the dragon will hear of your exploits shortly.

Fortunately, Bofus returns with the staff of healing in his hands before long.

Staff of Life currently has 7 charges

Bofus takes out a wand. This wand is close to being spent, so let's go ahead and use it up now.

He hits Red twice...

CLW x 2: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (4, 5) + 2 = 11

...Thordak thrice...

CLW x 3: 3d8 + 3 ⇒ (5, 3, 1) + 3 = 12

...and Mantooth thrice.

CLW x 3: 3d8 + 3 ⇒ (1, 3, 8) + 3 = 15

He then looks over toward the dragon. What do you all think? Should we go pay Red Lizzie a visit?

There is a short time from the time that Bofus left until his return. Is there anything that you do in that period of time? Once he returns, are you back inside of the walls of the city or do you prefer to try and approach the encampment with the Red Hand and the Red Dragon?

I know what I think...

You know what I think? I think we should go poke a few holes in that dragon, rather than wait for it to attack on *its* terms. I'm betting Red, at least, feels the same way!

It will be tough to get close. I do not have many spells that would be useful against one such as him.

"No point giving him loads of space to fly around in, hardly seems smart, need to bring him into a treeline and make him come to ground to fight"

Red looks around for any forested areas.

hp: 79/95

"No point giving him loads of space to fly around in, hardly seems smart, need to bring him into a treeline and make him come to ground to fight"

"So how do you propose preventing a dragon from flying? When we faced Ozyrrandion and Regiarix, they were both fond of flying over and using their breath weapon! Do we have anything to help us resist fire?"

"And speaking of damage, do we have any to heal up wounds? I'm still not feeling in top shape after that last battle."

Tirion looks to the Paladin:

Dragons are big and clumsy. The best way to stop them is to use magic to drain what little agility they have. Eventually, they become so clumsy that they fall from the sky with a big thud.

--> In other words, most dragons have a Dex of about 12. Using spells like Bestow Curse, Fleshworm Invasion, and Ray of Exhaustion, you can take down a dragon in very few rounds without landing a blow. Unfortunately, I do not have these spells. Whether Mathias would be able to get a rather nasty spell like Bestow Curse and Fleshworm Infeststion for this purpose I do not know. If we were to level, I could grab Fleshworm Infestation. It is an evil spell, but definitely has its place when fighting dragons.

"Did I not just mention fighting it in the woods? He can either fly around or engage us, he cannot do both if we are in the woods... only a fool would face dragons with an open sky above them"

Thats cool Tirion, otherwise we use the trees and the canopy they provide - it has to come down and in to engage us

Well, I think the trick, Red, would be to draw it into the woods. Think we can do that?

"So what dae yae propose doing to draw the dragon down? Oi don't think we have any dragon biscuits in our supplies. Mebbae a large pile of gold would draw him out!"

I was thinking more along the lines of a couple of my acid arrows up his arse.

"Normally it's their ego. Set up a picnic by the forests edge and wave at them, he should get riled from that, especially after all the insults I seeded"

Before you have a chance to seek out the dragon, the chromatic beast flies overhead and lands on the ground about fifty feet in front of you. From your vantage behind a cluster of trees, you see a crown of cruel horns surrounds the head of this mighty dragon. Thick scales the color of molten rock cover its long body. A heat radiates from it that you are certain would burn if you got too close.

The dragon looks over the corpses of the dead hill giants you and from a pile of rocks he is perched upon, he declares in a deep booming voice, "Who is the one called Red? I hear he has an issue with this Red. Does he dare step out and face me or does he prefer to cower behind trees?!"

Everybody please make a Will Save DC 21 vs. Frightful Presence

Battlemat

Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Will post my actions later.

Also, everyone within 10' of Mantooth gets +4 on their save and Mantooth should be immune. I think that we would have set up with Mantooth in the middle as we would know about the Frightful Presence.

Save mods: +4 for Mantooth, +2 for Fearless Halfling trait

Will: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 2 + 4 = 29

Bofus is hiding behind the rock, with his bow ready and an acid arrow nocked.

Stealth: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (14) + 26 = 40

1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 4 = 21

"I'm an Elf, we live in trees you idiot, whassamatter? You too fat from being fed like the Wyrmlords lapdog you are that you can't fit or something?"

"Come get us fatso!"

Red gestures an obscene finger gesture at the dragon.

Bofus quietly claps his hand over his mouth, desperately suppressing the snicker Red's reply elicited. Only his professionalism, and desire to stay hidden, keeps him from a hearty belly-laugh.

He does have the presence of mind, though, to stealthily roll to his left, Red's right, to the other side of Mantooth and the cover of the trees immediately to the paladin's left (P -16 please) He looks at Red as if to say Yeah, that was great--but you becherass I'm not standing next to YOU now!!

Will Save: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 11 + 4 = 32

Mantooth draws Magnimarana from his sheath and prepares to use it on the dragon.

Smite Evil on Dragon.

Mantooth is Immune to fear. No need to roll the save, great roll though.

""I'm an Elf, we live in trees you idiot, whassamatter? You too fat from being fed like the Wyrmlords lapdog you are that you can't fit or something?"

"Come get us fatso!"

"How dare you speak to me like that! You must like fire!"

Abithriax breaths out of horrible roar of flame and destruction that ignites most of the trees in the area.

Breath Weapon: 12d10 ⇒ (2, 1, 2, 4, 8, 3, 10, 2, 6, 5, 1, 9) = 53 Reflex Saving Throw DC24

Battlemat

Please note that my previous post had me move to P -16 (still in the area of effect of fire, so...)

Ref: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25 <--whewwww...

Bofus steps aside of the sheet of flame, and quickly looks back to see how his friends fared in the conflagration--ready to heal anyone who looks too bad.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Ouch!

HP13/83

After all that, we didn't get the Resist fire up as planned :p

Reflex Saving Throw 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
hp:26/95

"Help, I'm on Fire!"

Should we roll initiative?

Mantooth is closer; Bofus will probably hit him with Heal first. Make an argument against, if you think I should hit someone else first

apparently we lost it, hoping we get a right of reply now :P

I forgot that I had not yet posted my post-fear save action. I never got an action in. With a dragon, I would have flown a ways away to avoid exactly this.

Also, I would have cast Resist Energy on each party member using 4 2nd level spells and 2 3rd level slots. This would cover each party member and Lulu. It has a duration of 80 minutes so it would have been cast before we even left the giants, likely before we fought them. I am not sure whether Poppy would need one as she has Improved Evasion.

Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

HP: -7/46

Tirion collapses to the ground a smoking bloody mess.

Con(stabilize): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11 vs DC17

Thordak nimbly dives to to avoid the dragon's fire.

Reflex 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

"Ho, Ho! Oi almost got toasted by that lizard!"

hp: 41/105

Um, yeah...after rereading the posts, I don't know how we got in the forest. We were *talking* about getting to a forested area, but no one ever actually made the move. Did the dragon enter the town walls?

As fire roars and trees burn all around you, you seek what shelter and cover you may. However, the red dragon has left a huge swath of charred ground upon where fallen burning trees are lain.

You all had some cover from trees, so you did not take full damage, but all of you with the exception of Poppu, Lulu, and Bofus, felt some of the burning fire of this dragon's breath. Movement through the charred area is considered difficult terrain. Fire spots require a reflex DC 20 saving throw to pass through without incurring a 1d6 fire damage.

Initiative

Bofus Initiative: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28
Mantooth Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Poppy’s Initiative: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Rebel Red’s Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Thordak Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Tirion’s Initiative: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Abithriax's Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Current hp:

• Bofus (51/51)
• Poppy (41/41)
• Abithriax (Full Strength)
• Red (40/83)
• Mantooth (53/95)
• Tirion (20/46)
• Thordak (55/105)

Battlemat

Round 1

• Bofus
• Poppy
• Abithriax
• Red
• Mantooth
• Tirion
• Thordak

I'm confused. Did the dragon get a surprise attack on us? We were all aware that it was there. Effectively, we were delaying to see what it was going to do. I do not think that it should get two actions in before most of us only get our first. This is not a situation where we were surprised or missed our perception rolls.

Also, is the Fly still in effect. I cast fly on myself, Bofus and Red I believe. It should have lasted 8 minutes and the last fight was barely more than a minute.

Finally, did I get a chance to cast Resist energy on the party? I need to know so that I know how many spells I have left.

Round 1

• Abithriax (resolved)
• Bofus
• Poppy
• Red
• Mantooth
• Tirion
• Thordak

Battlemat

ROUND 1

Anticipating the need to move quickly, Bofus pulls out a Potion of Expeditious Retreat, chugs it, and shifts to his right (5' step to P -17)[/b]

Tirion, hoping that he has the time to cast fly, instead moves next to Thordak and casts Haste to speed up the group.

Move: Move to M/-21.
Standard: Cast Haste
--> Should get everyone except Poppy and Lulu

Round 1

Mantooth delays until Tirion has cast Haste and then races across the treacherous ground (to P-14) to safely hide behind a tree where he swiftly lays hands upon himself and draws his sword, Magnimarana.

"I will smite this dragon down!" the paladin whispers to himself.

Lay on Hands: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 4, 3) = 13

hp:66/95

Any Area heals or more buffs going off? Holding out so I can go in beefy as I can :)

ROUND 1

Thordak moves for cover behind the rocks (Move to I-21). He then pulls out a potion of cure light wounds and quickly guzzles it down.

Cure Light Wounds1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"Oi've got tae have mae strength tae take down a dragon!"

Thordak - you have +2 for both goblinoid and dragons, one of these should be +4 as you get a new FE, and the ability to increase the new FE or one you already have by +2 at 5th level and again each time you gain a new FE.

Also, with your HP, a potion of CLW is a bit of a waste of an action. Move in and hit the dragon as hard as you can would be a better choice. Don't forget you have extra speed from haste.

Finally, you seem to have switched to the Skirmisher archetype, but I cannot tell which tricks you chose. Just looking, Tangling Attack and Hateful Attack look to be two of the more useful tricks.

I'll second at least one of Tirion's statements: CLW in this situation isn't the best bet. I can handle the big individual healing using the Staff, so if someone is in dire straights I'll ding ya, not to worry.
Sorry Red, but I have no area heals or buffs up my sleeve.

He is probably referring to a Channel Energy from the party Paladin.

Also, with your HP, a potion of CLW is a bit of a waste of an action. Move in and hit the dragon as hard as you can would be a better choice. Don't forget you have extra speed from haste.

I plan to attack the dragon at my nearest opportunity. I was just not sure that going through the fiery terrain would be the wisest course, even with haste. I thought I would be stuck out in the open ready to be attacked again. So instead, my plan was to move around the perimeter of the fiery region. However, since I could not get all the way there, I thought staying behind cover and trying to get my hit points up was the best alternative. I would have preferred something with more curative power than a potion of cure light wounds, but that is all I had on me. Sorry if it is not the best plan. :(

Just waiting for Red and then we will be all set.

Red uses the haste to propel him towards the dragon at great speed into melee.

Acrobatics 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Attack 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 11 + 1 = 30
Damage 2d4 + 14 ⇒ (4, 4) + 14 = 22

Confirm 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 11 + 1 = 27
Damage 2d4 + 14 ⇒ (2, 1) + 14 = 17

Poppy channels the light of Elysium down on the dragon...

• STARLIGHT BLAST (Su): As a standard action once every 1d4 rounds, can tap into the divine power of Elysium, unleashing a blast of holy starlight in a 5 ft burst. All creatures in this area take 1d4 points of holy damage, plus 1 point for each step their alignment deviates from chaotic good. A DC 14 Reflex save negates. (PFBty)

"Hehe. What a pathetic creature you are!" Abithriax booms out eagerly as he attacks the bard with a deadly bite and a swipe from each of his claws.

Bite: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (9) + 22 = 31
Damage: 2d8 + 13 ⇒ (8, 2) + 13 = 23

Left Claw: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (14) + 22 = 36
Damage: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (4, 2) + 9 = 15

Right Claw: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (12) + 22 = 34
Damage: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (4, 6) + 9 = 19

Round 1

• Abithriax breathed a cone of fire engulfing trees and heroes alike.
• Bofus drinks a potion of expeditious retreat and moves to P-17.
• Tirion moves to M-21 and casts haste upon his companions.
• Poppy channels Starlight Blast down upon the dragon. Reflex Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25 However, the red dragon simply ignores the damage with an easy evasion.
• Red charges with great haste toward Abithriax and plunges his blade into the thick skin of the dragon.
• Mantooth moves to P-14, lays hands upon himself and draws his blade, Magnimarana.
• Thordak moves to I-21 and drinks a potion of cure light wounds.

Round 2
• Abithriax attacks Red with a deadly swipe from each of its claws and a bite from a jaw of dagger sharp teeth!

Battlemat

Round 2
• Bofus
• Poppy
• Red
• Mantooth
• Tirion
• Thordak

Red is now napping (dead).

Actually attacking would have been a good idea :P I get the Lay Hands, but thats something that could have been done after engaging the Dragon (swift action) rather than chill behind a tree (or AoE Heal with it and tag us all instead), and pumping it full of crossbow bolts might have been better than a CLW.

Yeh, nothing personal, but we have 3 major damage dealers. Right now one is hiding behind a rock after having moved away from the dragon so that even with haste it is going to require 2-3 rounds to get to the dragon which will have used up more than 1/2 of the haste bonuses. The other moved a short distance and then hid behind a tree where he used lay on hands. The third charged forward and was mauled by the dragon in 1-to-1 combat.

At this point, I have almost no spells that will hurt the dragon. I can try to fireball it and convert to acid. Or just fire magic missiles. However, neither of these are going to do a lot of damage and must overcome Spell Resistance.

Bofus needs to get into position to get sneak damage, except that he is on the same side as Mantooth and all the rest of the fighters are either near-dead or hiding behind rocks.

I do not know whether we can start this whole combat over, but at this point either people simply want this campaign to end and are doing everything that is tactically ineffective to commit suicide, or people are all deciding to be an army of one. If we were actually communicating in the OOC, we would have all charged across the charred land. Everyone would have gotten an attack in, or would have been able to attack with a lot of damage next round. At the same time, Mantooth could have used 2 Lay on Hands to Channel and heal everyone.

If someone has a brilliant idea of what I should do at this point other than watch all of you get mauled in single combat, please let me know. Otherwise I will attack with my ineffective spells until everyone is dead and Brindol is a smoking ruin.

Sorry for the rant, but somehow this went from a fairly well planned attack to painting bulls eyes on our chests and then waiting for the biggest enemy in the game to fire at us.